Breast Cancer Now Forum

Brilliant thread! Off on a Caribbean Cruise in 4 weeks time. Am 16 yrs since 1st diagnosis, now 5yrs since 2nd. Hubby and I are soooo excited and grabbing any crazy experience going (submarine trip, fast yacht race, etc etc). Wishing you all a great holiday wherever it may be in 2012. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi Revcat Just come across your posting - its quite a while since I had tamoxifen (almost 15 years), but can remember the coccyx problem only too well. From memory it did get better, but can recall struggling with it when at the gym doing situps!! Was on Tamoxifen 5 yrs and think that was around for probably the first year. Hope this helps. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi everybody. Have been on Femara for 4 years now, and today collected script as usual... to find mine come from Arrow Generics Ltd, marked up as Letrozole film-coated tablets. Fingers crossed for no se's. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi I had DIEP, followed by my other breast being reduced to "match up", with the nipple being lifted and moved - all is well, feeling is fine and I couldn't be happier, both with my belly boob and my new perky one! Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi gaplet I had my DEIP April 2009 and still sooooooo pleased with it. Don't worry about the flutterings/buzzings, this will continue for a while. My surgeon told me that you have so many stitches inside that cause all manner of strange feelings and that its all ok. Just keep an eye on any signs of infection, but if in real doubt just phone them. Well done you - I am absolutely over the moon with mine, worth every minute.... ask any questions, either you or Anita. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi FLF Well done girl - nice to have you back. Everybody have a brilliant Christmas. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi everybody Carolyn - fingers crossed that snow lets up for your appt on Friday and FLF Saturday's the day and really the pain is not bad at all after a DIEP - para and ibro was enough for me - only on night two did I ask for something stronger, more to make me sleep more than anything, and that didn't work, had a very heavy snorer in the same room!! Suzan, to answer your questions - my nipple was done quite a long time after, due to another problem not related to BC, but it was just a tuck made in the skin. I had this done while he reduced my good side to match me up (bit lop-sided!) then a tattoo around it. My round two was a new primary, same breast which very suddenly reduced in size/shape (husband says I do nothing by halves). It was very scary, but treatment moves on in leaps and bounds and now on another hormone tab and everything crossed. Wishing everyone the best over the next few weeks and keep in touch. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi Suzan Sounds a very familiar story. I was 38 first time round and 50 the second time. Now its eighteen months since DIEP and really wish I'd had it earlier. I am so very pleased with the result and although its a long hard op, its doable - certainly easier than Chemo. Re. the knock-out drops, you will be so closely monitored all the time, and I didn't feel any worse than when I had the mastectomy which was a considerably shorter op. You won't be able to move about afterwards - be prepared for two days of constant care from brilliant nurses, you will be extremely warm and pretty confined, but it doesn't last long and so necessary to make sure all is ok and before you know it, you'll be up and about. A few of us had a blog going comparing notes "Diep April EEk" or something like that, during our time and it should give you an insight to what happens afterwards and I'm sure all the girls on there are happy with the results. Keep calm??? - no tips there really, other than its only natural to be in panic mode, but I'm sure that given a few months down the line you will be so pleased you went through it. Only a few weeks ago, there was a special day held for my surgeon who has performed over 100 DIEPS at one particular hospital and we all turned up - brilliant to see so many women confident and happy with themselves. Keep calm (red wine always helps me!) and ask away if you have any more questions. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hiya Carolyn - I had a cold two days before my DIEP - phone surgeon's secretary who said come in and the aneathetist will decide - basically if he could get a tube down my throat, all would be well. For two days I was so worried that it would be cancelled - but no problem whatsoever - point to note though, I was told not to take any vitamins for the cold - just vic rub!! All the best for the 14th - will be thinking of you. FLF - trying to remember back, I think after the two week check I was told I could go into soft sports bras - and def. after 6 week check was back to pretty ones - i can't handle underwired though, but figleaves do some really nice non-wired ones. Hope this helps. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi FLF and Susan I posted on here quite a while back trying to reassure Jacqui before her op. Please try to have a look at our old blog, so many of us went through DIEP at the same time and we all started at where you are both at. One word of advice - try to find out if your surgeon can help you meet up with other girls he has Diep'ed. Mine offered a meeting where you met up with others who were happy to chat through the nitty grittys and show off their results - I'm hoping to do this at my local one some day, nerves allowing! - it made all the difference to me, really made up my mind and from there I knew I really wanted to get rid of my prosthesis and get a cleavage again. This week I was signed off by my plastic surgeon, a brilliant man, and it was just an amazing feeling, new breast, tattoo'd nipple and a cleavage to be proud of - something I was not all bothered about at mastectomy stage, just wanted the cancer out, but as time went on, I just wasn't happy with my scar and the problems having a prosthesis brought (one ended up under the back wheels of my car! - sheer bliss!) Good luck to both of you, and can truthfully say that having a DIEP was one of the best things I have done - for me. Any questions - please ask away. Cheers Anne ... View more

Heidi Cyber hugs and totally understand your worries - the mind goes into overdrive, but try to rein it in and wait for the guy who knows to tell you the results - all sounds good on paper doesn't it! We're here and rooting for you. Love Anne x ... View more

Hi everybody Come on here to browse every now and then and something made me look at our old forum and saw your posts Heidi. Hard to know what to say, but absolutely thinking of you and sending the vibes and hugs as hard as I can. Please let us know when you're going in and what's happening. Have been in your shoes, and know how strong you are, hang in there kid and wish we were all nearer to each other - just keep in touch. Helen & Cathy - lovely to hear you two again, seems only like yesterday when we were comparing notes. I've just signed up for volunteering at Citizens Advice, trying to help people with problems - must be a sucker for stress! Take care and love to all. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi Annie81 Just saw your post and don't have any brilliant words of wisdom, just that we're here. Iv'e had BC twice and know where you are and can only say take each day as it comes. I had the same worries, and my mum turned out to be so strong - still is now three years on from second diagnosis, 14 years from first. Hope Wednesday proves this is local for you. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi Jacqui I had DIEP April last year and haven't regretted it for one second since. A little different to you, in that I had MX two years prior and I'm sure that you will be soooo pleased with the result further down the line. I started a thread "Diep booked 18 April-Eeek", when I was at the same stage you are at now, can totally relate to how nervous you are, quite a few other girls joined and if you have the patience to read, I think you'll find quite a few tips and hints, and I'm sure that everyone who chatted then are really happy with the outcomes. It is a big op, and be prepared for the first few days in hospital - any questions you want to ask please fire away - I didn't really see it as causing damage to my stomach, no muscle is involved in the DIEP, but really as a perk, having a tummy tuck is just so brilliant - haven't had a flat tum like this since I was a teenager! Go for it, let the boys take the strain for the summer, enjoy the sunshine and yes, it is worth the investment. All the very best Cheers Anne ... View more

Hi Heidi Just seen the video and it made me cry. All power to you, well done, brilliant stuff. Cheers Anne x ... View more

Hi Saffronseed I developed haematoma after breast reconstruction. I had it drained a couple of times by a radiologist then they decided to leave it and hopefully the body would gradually break it down. This was in April last year and it did take a few months to settle as I remember, but the body does gradually absorb it. I know by August, when my daughter married, I was not aware of it giving me any problems. Hope this helps. Cheers Anne ... View more

Hello everybody. Heidi - all power to you, its brill you're doing the moonwalk, I've managed the Race for Life ten times (must come kind of near to your distance, just taken me ten years to do it!) All the very best, it must be an amazing experience, enjoy and will be thinking of you. Sarah, all the best to your hubby and thats excellent news on your 5yrs. I'm 12 days past boob reduction and nipple and trying not to do too much, but its so much easier than the diep and I keep forgetting not to lift, pull, etc.. but see surgeon tomorrow for post op meet and hope to get the all clear to drive and exercise again. So very much hope this is my last op for a long long time. Helen, lovely to hear from you and now we both only have the tatoo to go. Keep well and have you had that holiday yet?? Love to all. Cheers Anne x ... View more

Hi Helen So good to hear from you and thanks for the kind wishes. Just got back from my pre-op and just want Friday to come and get it all done and dusted. Tattoo - thats a giggle, can't wait for that one! All the best and thanks again. Cheers Anne x ... View more

Hi everybody Can you believe it, one year gone since I started this post and lots has happened since my last visit. Have had skin cancer in my good boob which has delayed my "levelling up op", but now its sorted and I'm booked for the 23 April. So hopefully on the final bit of my recon saga and will be able to find bras easier and maybe even go braless hehee. Nell, Tracy, Heidi, Lenny, Lyra, Sarah to name a few of you who became recon buddies, hope you are all well and to those considering recon who read this post, it is soooo worth it. Cheers Anne x ... View more

I had this in my calf quite a long time ago. Drs said it was caused by Tamoxifen. I remember having to take aspirin plus cream, and it cleared after a few weeks. Touch wood not returned and am now on Femara. Hope this helps. Cheers Anne ... View more